Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — More students would be able to attend charter schools in Mississippi under a bill headed to Gov. Phil Bryant for his approval or veto.

The Senate voted 24-21 Thursday to agree to House changes to Senate Bill 2161.

The bill would allow students in Mississippi school districts with academic ratings of C, D, or F to cross district lines to attend charter schools elsewhere in the state. The measure also takes away amounts equal to per-student local tax revenue from districts that students exit.

Supporters say the measure improves chances for rural charter schools, where many individual districts are too small to support a charter school. Opponents dispute whether charter schools perform better than traditional public schools and say taxpayers shouldn't be forced to support schools elsewhere.